Editor’s Notebook: Big Omaha, content lag and our summer intern

The video above just about sums up our blog these past few weeks. My apologies to our regular readers, we’ve been so hunkered down with Big Omaha preparations that we haven’t dedicated time to keeping up with the many things going on around us. And there are many things. Here’s just a handful of stories…

The video above just about sums up our blog these past few weeks. My apologies to our regular readers, we’ve been so hunkered down with Big Omaha preparations that we haven’t dedicated time to keeping up with the many things going on around us. And there are many things.

Here’s just a handful of stories we’ve missed the boat on covering:

Founded in 2007, Omaha-based Financial Transmission Network, Inc. (FTNI), a provider of electronic payment technology solutions, has made some great traction lately:

Emerging Terrain, a nonprofit research and design collaborative, teamed up with the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts for Stored Potential, a project to transform a vacant grain elevator near downtown Omaha to a temporary art exhibition.

On April 28, KANEKO hosted Green Omaha Coalition‘s Art and the Environment event, an evening of presentations, discussion, and performance featuring local artists and designers who utilize their artform to bring environmental awareness to our community.

On May 4, Matt Secoske organized the first-ever Omaha Domain Exchange.

On May 5, MAHA Music Festival announced the lineup addition of Omaha’s popular funk, soul, and pop band Satchel Grande as well as upcoming events to determine the other bands for the local stage.

Big Omaha

As mentioned above, Big Omaha preparations are taking up a majority of our time. In addition to the setting up of the usual conference items – chairs, tables, food, beverages, etc. – we’re also arranging for experiential elements.

I’m eager to introduce you to the artists we’ve brought in to create a few of those elements, but we want it to be a surprise. You’ll have to wait until the day of the conference to see it and the weeks following to hear more about it on Silicon Prairie News.

I do, however, want to introduce you to a few of the team members that are playing an important role in this year’s event:

In addition, we have an awesome group of sponsors that have provided us the support and encouragement necessary to help us hold this event. Look for blog posts this coming week highlighting our sponsors. From Kauffman Foundation to the in-kind supplier of buttons, ButtonBiz.com, they have all been a great addition to this year’s event.

Summer Intern

It’s with great excitement that we introduce you to our summer intern, Andrea Ciurej. Fresh off graduation from University of Nerbaska at Omaha (UNO) this past Friday – Congrats, Andrea! – she’ll begin with us on Monday. Her main roles include: contributing and editing content, writing press releases and creating a media newsletter, and assisting with event production.

Along with her recently earned Bachelor of Arts in Journalism – News-Editorial, Andrea brings with her experience as editor-in-chief of UNO’s Gateway, its twice-weekly newspaper.

Help us welcome Andrea with a comment below and look for more from her in the coming weeks. If you’re attending Big Omaha, she’ll be working the registration table – make sure to say hello and introduce yourself.

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